Antenna attachment arrangement

Abstract

An antenna module for a vehicle communication system can be attached to a vehicle using an attachment arrangement that includes a cast and a single module that incorporates a bolt with an integrated retainer clip. The attachment arrangement acts as its own snap. The retainer clip has a spring mechanism. The installer installs the attachment arrangement to a through hole, for example, in a vehicle roof panel. As the retainer clip passes through the through hole, it collapses around the body of the cast. After the retainer clip passes completely through the through hole, the spring mechanism causes the retainer clip to rebound back to its original span to temporarily hold the antenna module in place. The installer then tightens the bolt, thereby stroking the integrated retainer clip up the cast toward the vehicle roof panel. When the retainer clip contacts the vehicle roof panel, the installer further tightens the bolt to a recommended drive torque. This further tightening of the bolt creates a clamp load between the antenna module and the vehicle roof panel to provide a robust joint and watertight seal for the life of the vehicle.

1 . An attachment arrangement for securing a module to a vehicle component defining an aperture, the attachment arrangement comprising: 
 a cast;    a clip having a plurality of flanges configured to compress when the clip is inserted in the aperture, the flanges further configured to expand after the clip is fully inserted in the aperture; and    a bolt coupled to the clip and to the cast and configured to drive the clip toward an end of the cast when the bolt is tightened.    
   
   
       2 . The attachment arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein at least one flange comprises a dogleg-type projection configured to engage with a flat feature of the cast.  
   
   
       3 . The attachment arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the cast defines a connector receptacle configured to receive an electrical interconnect.  
   
   
       4 . The attachment arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the clip along one axis is smaller than a diameter of the aperture.  
   
   
       5 . The attachment arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the module comprises an antenna module.  
   
   
       6 . The attachment arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle component comprises a vehicle panel.  
   
   
       7 . The attachment arrangement of  claim 6 , wherein the vehicle panel comprises a vehicle roof panel.  
   
   
       8 . A method to attach a module to a vehicle component defining an aperture, the method comprising: 
 inserting an attachment arrangement through the aperture, the attachment arrangement having a clip having a plurality of flanges configured to compress when the clip is inserted in the aperture;    inserting the clip fully in the aperture, thereby causing the flanges to secure the attachment arrangement to the vehicle component;    driving the clip toward the vehicle component; and    installing the module to the attachment arrangement.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein driving the clip toward the vehicle component comprises tightening a bolt.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising tightening the bolt to a specified drive torque.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising installing an electrical interconnect through a connector receptacle defined by the attachment arrangement.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein a length of the clip along one axis is smaller than a diameter of the aperture.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the module comprises an antenna module.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the vehicle component comprises a vehicle panel.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the vehicle panel comprises a vehicle roof panel.